[yasr_overall_rating]
An exploration of the life, lessons, and legacy of iconic children’s television host, Fred Rogers.
Jesus was asked one day what someone must do for eternal life. Jesus answered the question as he often did – with another question: “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“Right!” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live!”
(Simple enough, right?)
Except that this man, an expert in religious law, was trying to outwit Jesus and this was his final rebuttal, meant to silence Jesus and his radical teachings:
“And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:25-29, New Living Translation
“Mister Rogers,” born Fred McFeely Rogers (1928-2003), is a dearly beloved icon of the quintessential childhood. Set to enter seminary as a young man, Rogers experienced an awakening the first time he viewed a television set in his parents’ home. Something in him questioned the benefits of the future of television, and yet, strangely enough, he was willing to engage with the tool of television to counter the ill effects that he had the foresight to intuit. This tender documentary tells the compelling story of a deliberately kind man.
In an era that was only beginning to listen to children, these snippets of faith, childhood loneliness, and a deep hope for the perseverance of humanity pieced together a quilt of comfort and community that was the philosophy of Fred Rogers. To him, what mattered the most was that each child truly believed that he or she mattered. And what would become America’s longest-running children’s series happened in the most radical, unexpected way.
With unrefined scripts, low-budget sets, clumsy puppetry, and an obvious disregard for actual ventriloquism, Rogers seemed to fumble his way into the hearts of children if only because he loved them just as they are. In fact, it struck me that Mister Rogers barely even made an effort of disguising himself as the voice of his many puppets. Instead, he simply was the voice of a puppet in much the same way as a small child is the voice for her favorite doll or his best GI Joe. And in just that simple act of unpretentious pretending with puppets, Fred revealed some of his most deeply rooted beliefs about children and childhood.
“Feelings are mentionable and manageable.”
Fred and his one sibling, Elaine, grew up in a time when they were not allowed to show their emotions, to be sad out loud, or even angry. Mister Rogers rebelled against this philosophy of parenting with the utmost patience of listening to children and encouraging them to be heard. Later, he would be horribly accused of contributing to a generation of entitled children, but strange and disquieting kindnesses are usually misunderstood, even taunted.
“What is essential in life is invisible to the eye.”
Music was Fred’s first language where he found the freedom to express his emotions. Playing the piano, writing little ditties about hope and feelings and struggles, was how Fred voiced his own fears and insecurities and how he also created space for children to do the same. Not only that, but he used time differently, and especially silence. He spoke slowly, moved unhurriedly, sang softly, allowed whole seconds of simply silence. Like a closet crammed with mismatched shoes, piles of moth-eaten sweaters and raggedy jeans, Mister Rogers knew that space is what is needed to process and clear away the clutter. And emotional space translates as silence. Silence is hard. Uncomfortable. And desperately needed.
“Love your neighbor. Love yourself.”
The verse goes, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” but usually the liturgical message tends to emphasize only the “love your neighbor” part. Mister Rogers heard the whole message and understood that loving yourself was the key to loving your neighbor. Ahead of his time and soulfully perceptive, he boldly showed love regardless of race or disability, but especially age. For a brief time, he attempted to offer adults the same regard for their television programming as he did for children, but it wasn’t understood or received as openly.
This documentary is wonderful. But honestly, it’s the person who makes this documentary wonderful. For the first time, as a child who grew up without television, I felt that I had missed out on knowing someone truly special. Maybe he struggled with depression and his fears of inadequacy more than anyone cared to admit. Maybe he was a better father on set than at home. I don’t know, but I am certain that he was human just like the rest of us. I am also certain that he is absolutely deserving of love just as he was, and still is in our memories today.
In the words of the beloved Mister Rogers, “those who would try to make you feel less than you are, that, is the greatest evil.”
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying,
“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said,
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
You will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 18:1-4, ESV
Don’t miss this film. But better yet, don’t miss the message.
Won’t you?…be my neighbor.
In select theaters Friday, June 15th
